Perry



(No Model.) 7

S. L. PERRY.

FLEXIBLE FIRE ESCAPE LADDER. No. 471 329. Patented Mar. 22, 1892.

UNITED STATES LATENT Enron.

SARAH LOUISIANA PERRY, OF MEDICINE LODGE, KANSAS.

FLEXIBLE FIRE-ESCAPE LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,329, dated March 22, 1892.

- Application filed September 25, 1891- Serlal No. 406,789- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SARAH LOUISIANA PERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Medicine Lodge, in the county of Barber and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Flexible Fire-Escape Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fire escapes and ladders, and more especially to that class thereof known as flexible ladders, and the object of the same is to produce a simple, light, strong, and fire-proof ladder of this character.

To this end the invention consists in a lad der constructed substantially as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the sheet of drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a general perspective view of this improved ladder. Fig. 2 is a considerably-enlarged elevation of a section thereof, showing two of its rungs.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter L designates a good-sized and strong wire twice the desired length of the ladder, whichis bent at its center 0 so as to form a loop at the upper end of the ladder, and whose lower ends are bent together into astout hook H and tied by a tie-wire T.

S is a smaller wire of considerable length and is applied to the larger wire L in the following manner: Starting at one end of the wire L and at the lower end of the ladder, the small wire S is coiled around one strand of the larger wire for about a foot, is then led across to the other strand and carried up thereon for about another foot, and then back to the first strand, and so on to the top of the ladder. Here it passes over the curved center 0 and is led down on the opposite side to the first crossing wire, around which it is coiled and led across to the other strand of the larger wire, passed down the same, across on the next cross-strand, and so on to the bottom, alternating with itself on its upward course. This small wire reinforces and strengthens the larger wire and roughens it, so that the hands will not slip off the same, and it also forms the rungs of the ladder and holds the side bars thereof properly spaced.

A grappling-hook G of stiff wire has an eye I at its lower end,which is looselylinked into the curved center C of the ladder, and this hook may be thrown over any suitable heavy object in the room, so as to support the ladder when it is desired to escape.

The ladder, being flexible, can be rolled up and stored away under the bed or in any convenient place, and when a fire occurs it can be thrown out of the window and allowed to uncoil to the ground or if it be Wound up so that the hooked end H is outermost a trunk, a valise, or even a child might be hitched to the hook and lowered to the ground, thus assisting in straightening out the ladder and assuring the safety of the article lowered. The grappling-hook at the inner end of the coil can then be engaged over any suitable support, or the looped center may be used for the same purpose, whereby the ladder will be supported.

The construction of the ladder itself is extremely simple and cheap, and its great strength and durability render it a serviceable article in a house or other building. It

may even be made light enough to be port able, so as to be carried in a valise or trunk.

WVhat is claimed as new is 1. The herein-described ladder, the same consisting of a larger wire bent at its center into two parallel strands, forming the side bars of the ladder, and a smaller wire coiled on one strand from one end of the larger wire for a short distance, thence led across to the other strand and coiled thereon for a short distance, and so on to and around said bent center to the upper point of crossing, coiled around itself where it crosses the ladder, and carried down at points opposite its upward direction, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described fire-escape ladder, the same comprising a flexible-wire ladder whose body is composed of asingle Wire Whose bent center is at the upper end of the ladder and whose ends are hooked upwardly, a tyingwire connecting said ends, and a grapplinghook linked into said bent center, the whole being adapted for use substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

3. A wire ladder composed of a large bodywire L, forming the side bars of the ladder, and the smaller wire S, coiled around the body-wire so as to reinforce and strengthen the latter and also roughen it, so that the hands will not slip when climbing, said smaller Wire crossing over from one side bar to the my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

v 7' other side bar at intervals, thereby forming SARAH LOUISIANA PERRX' 5 the rungs of the ladder, substantially as set Witnesses:

forth.

W. W. PERnY, In testimony that I claim the foregoing as F. E. READ. 

